Combination steaming and pressing device and water reservoir therefor



Jan. 14, 1969 s. R. BRICKER 3,421,238

COMBINATION STEAMING AND PRESSING DEVICE AND WATER RESERVOIR THEREFOR Filed June 8, 1967 Sheet of 2 FIGJ.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Samuel R. Bricker s. R. BRICKER 3,421,238 COMBINATION STEAMING AND PRESSING DEVICE AND Jan. 14, 1969 WATER RESERVOIR THEREFOR Sheet 2 of 2 Filed June 8, 1967 United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An enlongated upright container disposed in a cavity in a combination steaming and pressing device and adapted to hold water to be used in the device. The container is provided with a fill opening in a bottom wall thereof thereby necessitating the removal of the container from the device for filling thereof; the container is further provided with valve structure adjacent a first vertical wall of the container and motion transfer means carried in an opposite vertical wall so that movement imparted to one end of a mechanical amplifier by the motion transfer means produces optimum displacement at the end of the mechanical amplifier adjacent the valve structure.

Background of the Invention This invention relates, in general, to combination steaming and pressing devices and, more particularly, to water reservoirs for use therewith which constitute an integral part of the device yet are readily removable therefrom.

Heretofore, reservoirs have been known, the most common of which provided a continuous feed of water to the pressing device. To utilize a combination steaming and pressing device for dry pressing wherein the continuous feed reservoir is provided, it is necessary to first remove the reservoir. The desirability of selective water feeding will, in view of the foregoing, be appreciated. Prior attempts at accomplishing the'-.foregoing have been expensive and ineffective and, moreover, have not gained wholehearted acceptance by the consumer because of physical appearance (i.e., a water tank or bottle jetting out from the side of the pressing device).

Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved combination steaming and pressing device and water reservoir therefor.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new and improved combination steaming and pressing device and a removable water reservoir therefor.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a combination steaming and pressing device, a water reservoir which is simple in construction, pleasing in appearance and which can be manufactured inexpensively.

Summary Briefly, the present invention accomplishes the abovecited objects by providing a combination steaming and pressing device provided with a cavity therein for removably receiving a water reservoir such that the reservoir is substantially hidden from view.

The reservoir, itself, is simply constructed and comprises an elongated upright housing having a fill opening and closure member therefor in a bottom wall thereof thereby necessitating removal from the cavity for filling. The top wall is provided with a vent hole to allow for gravity flow of the water through a valve in the bottom wall. The valve is positioned adjacent a first vertical wall and a motion transfer member is carried by the vertical 3,421,238 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 wall directly opposite the first vertical wall. The motion transfer member transmits movement of a control button carried by the housing of the steaming and pressing device. A mechanical motion amplifier serves to actuate the valve in response to movement of the motion transfer device. It will be appreciated that the relative positioning of the valve and the motion transfer member on opposite sides of the housing and the physical dimensions of the housing provide an efficient and effective construction.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in View of the following detailed description and drawings.

Description of the drawings the lines Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, reference character 10 designates generally a combination steaming and pressing device provided with a cavity 11 .for receiving a water reservoir or container 12.

The water reservoir or housing 12, made from any suitable material, for example plastic, and constructed in any suitable manner, for example, by molding, comprises a top wall or cover 13, a bottom wall 14, opposed sidewalls 15 and 16 and opposed front and rear walls 17 and 18, respectively. The top wall or cover 12 is provided with a vent opening 19 to permit gravity flow of water out of the housing 12 through a valve seat 20 supported in the bottom wall 14. The bottom wall 14 is provided with a fill opening 21 and a resilient closure member 22 secured to the bottom wall 14 by means of a suitable fastener 23.

The valve seat 20 is a part of a valve structure generally indicated at 24 which structure comprises a valve stem 25 having a needle portion 26. The valve stem 25 is supported adjacent the vertical sidewall 15 by a support 27 molded integrally with the housing 12. The support 27 has an aperture 28 through which the valve stem 25 moves in order to open and close a bore 29 extending through the valve seat 20. To retain the valve stem 25 in operative relationship it is provided with a first flange 30 adjacent the top edge or portion thereof and a second flange 31 adjacent the lower end and disposed intermediate a portion of the support 27 and the valve seat 20. A spring 32 engaging the support 27 and the lower flange 31 and encompassing the valve stem 25 serves to bias the valve stem into a valve closing position.

A mechanical amplifier or valve actuator 33 has a substantially L-shaped configuration comprising a longer segment 34 and a shorter segment 35. The longer segment 34 extends between the wall 16 and the valve stem 25 and terminates in a bifurcated end portion 36 best shown in FIG. 3. The bifurcated portion 36 is disposed intermediate the flange 30 and the support member 27 and encompasses at least a portion of the valve stem 25 to thereby fix the position of the segment 34. The juncture 37, best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, of the segments 34 and 35 is captivated in a recess 38 formed in the wall 16 of the reservoir. The terminal portion of the segment 35 is provided with a detent 39* which engages a flexible diaphragm or motion transfer member 40 which is positioned adjacent a rocker arm 41 carried by the combination steaming and pressing device 10, see FIGS. 1 and 5. The actuator or rocker arm 41 is provided with a protuberance 42 which deflects the diaphragm 40 which, in turn, imparts pivotal movement to the L-shaped member 33 about the juncture 37. It will be appreciated that since the shorter segment 35 is smaller than the segment 34 displacement of the segment 35 will 'be amplified in the movement or displacement of the segment 34 to thereby minimize the required travel distance of the diaphragm 40 and the segment 34.

Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedescribed apparatus and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, steam pressing device and water reservoir therefor, said reservoir comprising: an elongated upright container, said container being provided with a vent opening adjacent a top wall thereof and a fill opening in a wall thereof, means for selectively closing said fill Opening to prevent emission of the water therefrom, valve means including a valve seat supported by said bottom wall adjacent a first vertical wall of said chamber, motion transfer means carried by a. vertical wall of said chamber opposite said first vertical wall, valve actuating means supported within said chamber in operative relationship with said valve means and said motion transfer means, said valve actuating means comprising an L- shaped lever supported for pivotal movement about the juncture of the segments forming said L-shaped lever and supported such that the shorter of the two segments coperatively engages said motion transfer means at approximately the terminal portion thereof and the longer segment extends between said vertical walls and is disposed substantially horizontal to said bottom wall in the inoperative position whereby the displacement of said longer segment constitutes an amplification of the displacement of said shorter segment to thereby minimize the degree of movement of said motion transfer means.

2. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said valve means comprises an elongate-cl valve stem and needle for selectively closing said valve seat.

3. Structure as specified in claim 2, including support means for said valve stem, said support means being provided with a horizontally extending portion having an aperture therein, said valve stem being provided with a flange adjacent the top end thereof for supporting said valve stem for extension through said aperture.

4. Structure as specified in claim 3, wherein the terminal portion of the longer segment of said L-shaped lever is disposed intermediate said support and said flange and encompasses at least a portion of said valve stem for retention thereof in actuating relationship with said valve stem and flange.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4, including means for biasing said valve stem into valve closing position.

6. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said motion transfer means comprises a flexible member disposed in an aperture in said vertical wall opposite said first vertical wall.

7. Structure as specified in claim: 1, wherein the portion of said shorter segment which engages said transfer means comprises a detent.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,782,537 2/1957 Vera-Mege 3877 2,807,896 10/1957 Tay 3877 X 3,245,160 4/1966 Knapp 3877 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 3877 

